US2789362A - Electrical clinometer - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1957 A. M. MAROTH 2,789,362

' ELECTRICAL CLINOMETER Filed nec. 22, 195s /o |36 8 .www

v JNVENTOR. iff/wx M /Vqforf/ Iof ythe spirit tube.

ELECTRICAL CLINOME'IER Arthur M. Maroth, Wilton, Conn.

Application December 22, 1955, Serial No. 554,696

9 Claims. (Cl. 3.3-206) The 'present invention relates generally to an electrical clinometer, that is, an instrument for indicating or checking the level or angle of a slope, elevation or inclination.

"Heretofore, clinometers have usually comprised two straight arms pivotally connected at one end and associated Iwith a protractor for indicating the angle included between the arms, and a spirit tube embodied in =one of the arms so that, when the other arm is applied against the slope to be measured and the arms are angularly adjusted to center the bubble of the spirit tube between the usual index lines, the protractor will then indicate the angle of the slope. With such an arrangement, the accuracy of the indication depends uponpthe -ability of the user to effect absolute centering of the lbubble of the spirit tube between the index lines by :angular adjustment of the arms, which requires a clear :and unobstructed view of the spirit tube. However,

,the slope to be measured frequently is in a location that `either prevents or makes difficult the required viewing Further, the area around the slope 4to be measured may be crowded and thereby prevent angular adjustment of the arms of the clinometer, par- :ticularlyto the extent necessary for the measurement' of large angles of slope or inclination.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present lnvention :to provide` an electrical clinometer for indicatingY orf Lchecking the level or angle of a slope, elevation or- `inclination, and that furnishes an easily observed signal, for example, the illumination of a light bulb, onlyj lwhenthe setting and indication of the electrical clinometer lexactly correspond to the level or angle of the slope being checked or measured.

Another Objectis to prov1de an electrical clinometer, of increased accuracy, and that facilitates the adjustnient thereof for the checking or measurement of different slopes or inclinations.

In 'an aspect of the invention an electrical clinometer includes a generally rectangular, elongated casing adapted to be .applied against the surface to be checked or measured, a reservoir Within the casing for containing a body of electrical conducting liquid, for example, mercury, having a free surface, an electrical circuit including a source of electricalcurrent, a signal, for example, a light bulb, and two contacts disposed adjacent the, free surface of the body of electrical conducting liquid to complete the circuit forenergizing the signal only when both contacts are simultaneously immersed in the liquid by the conforming of the surface ofthe liquid with a line passing through both contacts, av rockable support for the contacts so that the angle between. the longitudinal axis of the casing and theline passing-through bothcontacts can be varied, mechanism for-rocking vthe Contact support,vand indicating means associatedlwith such mechanism and suitably calibrated to indicate the angle included between the'line passing through thecontacts 'and the longitudinall axis of the casing. Vi

The above, and other objects, features and advantages 2,789,362 Patented Apr. 23, 1957 Mice Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; f

Fig. 4 is afragmentary, vertical-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a wiringdiagram representing an electrical circuit included in the illustrated clinometer.

Referring tothe drawing in detail, and ,initially to` 12 and is disposed with its central Aaxis lying in a plane,

that -is parallel to theilatbottom surface 14 of the casing andextending transverselywith respect tothe longitudinal axis of the casing 1,2. As seen in Fig. 3, the reservoir 16 preferably hask a bulbous peripheral portion 18 connecting together the outer edges of relatively closely spaced apart parallel side walls 20 which have hubs 22 at ,the centers thereof. The reservoir 16 is adapted to contain a body 24 of` electrical conducting liquid, for example, mercury or any other suitable conducting liquid, occupying one half of the interior volume of the reservoir,.so that the body of liquid 24 has a freesurface 26 at a level passing through the center of the reservoir.

It is apparent that,.when the bottom surface 14 -of the casing 12 extends horizontally, the free surface26 of the electrical conducting liquid will be parallel to the bottom surface of the casing, andthat, as the bottom surface 14 is inclined relative to the horizontal, the free surface 26 remains horizontal and the angle includedV between the free surface of the bodyv of electrical conducting liquid and the bottom surface 14 ofthe casing .will be equal to the inclination of the casing.

vA shaft 28 is rotatably journaled in the hubs 22 of the reservoir 16, and suitable packing glands 30 are provided in the hubs to prevent leakage ofthe electrical conducting liquid 24 from the reservoir around Ithe rotatable shaft 28. Arms 32 and 34 extend radially,

.free ends of the arms 32 and 34, respectively, and are aranged so that a line drawn from the tip of contact point 36 to the tip of contact point 3 8 will pass through the axis of rotation of the shaft 28. Thus, the tips of the contactpoints 36 and 38-wi1l engage the free surface V.w26 of the electrical conducting liquid only when the shaft 28 is rotatably disposed with respect to the casing 12 so that the line passing through the tips of the contact points and the axis of the shaft 28 lies in the horizontal plane of the surface 26. The contact points 36 and 38 may be formedof carbon, silver or the like'to prevent electrolysis resulting from their intermittent contact with' the'body of electrical conducting liquid. yThe arms 32 and 34 are preferably also formed of `an electrical conducting material and are insulated from each other,

jat the shaft 28, where conductors 40 andV 42 are re.

spectively connected 'to the arms "32 and 34.

3 Thexcontact points,36 andi38 cooperate with the fr? ,Suffe 26 ofthe body 0f ,electrical..ccnsuctins.

liquid to control the opening and closing of an electrical circuit for energizing a. signal device included in the clinometer 10. In the `illustrated*embodiment,oftheA invention, the signal deviceisV representedl by ,a light bulbV 44 received `in a -suitable receptacle 46r` at ,one end of the( casing l2nand projecting y from the latterwithinjaq Suitabliy Protects@ domed class.` Cover 48- The, cume of current for energizinglthe ligligtfbullrll,4 is preferably in the lform of audry cellbatterypack" Si) which is @unt-@d in -a .SlitelzlSuPPQrt ,5,2 ,Within the. Casing' 12 and can beinsertedjanrd removedn 'through an .opening at,l ytheve'nd Yof .the Y ca singwr and normally closed by a cover plate 541,'

As seen particular-ly'inFig. 5,y the, electrical circuit for Yenergizing the light lbulb` 44 may have the Y.conductor 42.connect ed tol oneterininal ofV-thebattery pack .'50,

whilehe conductor ,'40 isconnectedto the central ycron-. v

tact of theflighthnlbreceptacle, 46; Y Further,fa-con ductor 56extends between. thebas-e4 orshell of vthe re-,j ceptaclfe t6-andthe otheru terminal'ffthe battery:.pael. and preferablfhas vanhn-ff toggle switchrfSSA interposed.; therein so, that the, lightbulb can be venergizd V.onlyl` when the contactsvof the switch ,58m-e"closedandbothA contact points36and 38 ,simultaneously engage free A surface 26 of thebody 24 Aof conducting liquid Assuming that theshaft 28 isurotatably udisposed so that the liney extending through the ltips of bothv contact points v36 and 38 is parallel tothebottomfsuface 14 of the casing, itis 'apparent that'the vcircuit for'energizingu the bulb 4 4.will be Vcompleted through .the contactpoints and the body 24 of conducting liquid 'onlyfwhenthe surface 14 of the casinglies in afhoriz'ontal plane.'

With such, a setting` of the shaft 28 and Contact points'. 36 and 38, which corresponds .to the use Vof the.` cli?l nometer as a level, inclination of the bottom surface .14

of the' casingV will similarly incline the llinefpassing. `throughrthe tips of both contactpoints, whi'lethe freek surface 26 of theconductin'g'liquid remains horizontal,

so that r one or.the other ofthe contact points will`beV spaced from the surface 26 to interrupt the Yelectrical energizing circuit of the light bulb 44,.

lf theshaft 28 is angularly adjusted relativeA to the casingr12 so that a predetermined angle Ais included bel,` tween the tlat bottom surface`14 and the line passing through the tips of the contact points 36 andf38, the latter'w'ill simultaneouslyrengage the free surface ,26, off,I the `conducting liquidft'o complete theelectrical yenen4 gizing circuit of the 4light bulb"`44 only Whllfthelbob torn surface: 14 of the'casingisinclined lrelativefto" the horizontal byy the same predetermined angle. `In ac co'r'danceY with the present invention,- mechanism"pro-` vided for angularlyadjusting the shaft`28f is oper tively associated with 'an arrangement indicating,y at all tir'nes',y

theY angle included betweenfthe flattbott'nm surface 4f passing through the't'ips'v Vofl of the casing and. the line theA contact points n 3 6Land 3S.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the

mechanism forangularly adjusting the shaft 28 includ-esv a worm gear 60 xed on the shaft 28 and meshing withY a worm 62 on a drive shaft 641th'at extends longitudinally within thedcasing 12 and projects from the. endfof the latter remote from ther light bulb 44. A lknurledk 1 and `4)F so that the follower nut 70is held-against ro tation andmoves axially along the worm 68 in response to rotation @Hhs drivejshat ,641' 'feerelzlnjffiapitea- Ote fremthe lishtfbulbt afaasee of the worm 68 is substantially greater than the Jpitch ofhewonn 62 .so that, a relatively. small. .ansular.. 1i;- placement of the shaft 28 and the contact points 36 and 38 will be accompanied by a relatively large linear displacement of the follower nut 70. A scale 78, calibrated in degrees, is provided on the side wall 76 of the casing along the slot 74 and cooperates with a Vernier index 80 formed by a flangeon the free edge of the extension 72 and having Vernier gradua'tions, not shown. The follower nut 70` is arranged on the worm 68 so that, when the vernier80 is centered along theslot 74, as in Fig. 1, the shaft 28 and contact pointsl`36 and 38 are angularly ldisposed vwith the ,linepassing through; the tips of the contact points being parallel to the surface 14 of th-e casing. It is' apparent that, as` the shaft 64 is rotated in one direction or the other to incline the line yextending through the tips of Contact points 36 and 38 with respect to the surface 14, the Vernier index 80 will move `,along the scale 78 and cooperate withthe latter. lto indicate the extent of such inclination.

When the clinometer 10 is Vto beemployed -as a level, theknob k66 .is rotated `until the `Vernier index 8() isopposite the` indication for zero degrees on the scale 78.j Then, the light bulb 44 will be illuminated only whenu the surface,` against which the bottom surface14y is Vapplied, is horizontally disposed. measure ,the angle of an inclination, or slope, ythe sur-` face 14is applied against the slope and the knob is rotated until the light bulb is illuminated, whereupon the clinometer, theillumination of the light bulb 44clearly andraccurately indicates when the casing is disposed either l levelfror at the desired angle to the horizontal, so that,

there is no necessity to closely observe the condition of a.,VA

spirittube, as in previous clinometers. Further, the clinometer embodying the present invention is easily Aatl-y justablel and, in view of the relatively Igreat pitch.y ofthe*i worm 68, provides an expanded scale that can beac-.

curately read, even when working in close or crowded, locations.

It", is falso. to be notedthat, by reason :of .the relatively; great distance between the contact points 36, ancl-3,8, 5a.

sli ghtv angular `displacement of Athe contact points rfelative l relatively v,large vdisplacement of the contact pointshin'hthei directions generally normal Ato the surface 26 therebywinf creasingithe sensitivity and accuracyof` theindcatipnf Fr'therfthefdes'cribed conli'gurationf of thereservoir 16. tendsito ,accumulate arnajor portion of the Vbody of liquid- 24 'rwithinlthe Vbulbous Vperipheral'portion 18 of theres-f ervoirfor cooperationr with the contact points 36 andp38 y, thereby reducing, the" volume of mercury required, as, compared-with a'cir'cular reservoir of `uniform cross-sec; tion,v so that the effects of inertia on the body ofconductingliguid kare correspondingly. reduced to ensure thatfthy freefsurface 26 will'readily remain horizontal as,the1.

casing12 is angularly displaced.

Although an illustrative embodiment of theinvent'ion: has been described in detail herein and shown in the ,ac-v

companying` drawing, it is tobenunderstoodthat the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that. various changes `and.modifications may v,be effected,

in the-latter withoutk departing vfrom ,the scripeorspirit'v ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.v`

What is claimed is:

1. A clinometer or the like for determining .theV angle 0f .e 8.19m., :werden .as castes .beting .a Straight 19net.??

If it is desired to,

Then, theH reservoir in said casing containing a body of electrical vconducting liquid having a free surface which remains horizontal as said surface of the casing is angularly displayed from the horizontal, an electrically operated signal device, an electrical circuit for operating said signal device and having contact points interposed therein and cooperating with said body of electrical conducting liquid so that said circuit is completed and said signal device is thereby operated only when said contact points simultaneously engage saidfree surface of the liquid, adjusting means operative to angularly displace said contact points with respect to said surface of the casing thereby to vary the inclination of the casing at which said contact points simultaneously engage the free surface of the liquid, and indicating means responsive to said adjusting means and operative to indicate the inclination of said surface of the oasingvat which said contact points will simultaneously engage the conducting liquid and cause operation of said signal device.

2. A clinometer or the like for determining the angle of a slope; comprising a casing having at n least one straight longitudinal surface adapted to be applied .against the slope to be measured, a reservoir in said casing containing a body of electric conducting liquid having a free surface, two contacts movable in a longitudinal plane that is perpendicular to the plane of said straight longitudinal surface of the casing and being disposed symmetrically at opposite sides of the transverse medial line of said free surface of the liquid on a line passing through said transverse medial line so that said contacts simultaneously engage said free surface only when said line through the contacts lies in the plane of said free surface, an electrically operated signal device, an electrical circuit for operating said signal device and having said contacts interposed therein so that said circuit is completed through said body of electrical conducting liquid only when said two contacts simultaneously engage said free surface of the liquid, and means operative to move said contacts oppositely about said transverse medial line of the free surface thereby to vary the angular relationship between said line through the contacts and said straight longitudinal surface of the casing for determining the angle of said straight surface of the casing from the horizontal at which said contacts will simultaneously engage the free surface of the liquid and cause operation of said signal device.

3. A clinometer or the like for determining the angle of a slope; comprising a casing having at least one straight longitudinal surface adapted to be applied against the slope to be measured, a reservoir in said casing containing a body of electrical conducting liquid having a free surface, two contacts movable in a longitudinal plane that is perpendicular t-o the plane of said straight longitudinal surface of the casing :and being disposed symmetrically at opposite sides of the transverse medial line of said free surface of the liquid on a line passing through said transverse medial line so that said contacts simultaneously engage said free surface only when said line through the contacts lies in the plane of said free surface, an electrically operated signal device, an electrical circuit for operating said signal device and having said contacts interposed therein so that said circuit is completed through said body of electrical conducting liquid only when said two contacts simultaneously engage said free surface of the liquid, means operative -to move said contacts oppositely about said transverse medial line of the free surface thereby to vary the angular relationship between said line through the contacts and said straight longitudinal surface of the casing for determining the angle of said straight surface of the casing lfrom the horizontal at which said rcontacts will simultaneously engage the free surface of the liquid and cause operation of said signal device, and indicating means -responsive to said means moving the contacts and openative to show the angle of said straight surface ofthe casing relative to the horizontal at ywhich operation of said signal device will occur.

4. A clinometer or the like for determining the angle of a slope; comprising a casing having at least one straight' longitudinal surface adapted to be applied against the slope to be measured, a generally circular reservoir insaid casing disposed with its central axis extending paral-y lel kto the planeV of said surface of the casing and transversely with respect to the latter, a body 'of electrical conducting liquid half-filling said reservoir so that the center of the latter lies in the free surface of the liquid,

two contacts at diametrically opposed locations in said reservoir and movable together about the central axis Y of the latter` so that said contacts simultaneously engage said free surface of the conducting liquid only ,when thel diametrical line extending through both contacts is hori zontally disposed, an electrically operated signal device on said casing, an electrical circuit for operating said signal device and having said contacts interposed therein so that the circuit is completed through said body ofv electrical conducting liquid only when said contacts simultaneously engage said free surface of the liquid, and

means for angularly adjusting said contacts about said central axis of the reservoir thereby to vary the angle of said straight longitudinal surface of the casing relative to` the horizontal at which said signal device is operated.

5. A clinometer or the like for determining the angle of a slope; comprising a casing having at least one straight longitudinal surface adapted to be applied -against the lslope to` be measured, a generally circular reservoir `in said casing disposed with its central axis extending parallel .to Athe lplane of said surfaceiof the casing and transl versely with respect to the latter, a body of electrical conducting liquid half-filling said reservoir so that the center of the latter lies in the free surface of the liquid, two contacts at diametrically opposed locations in said reservoir and movable together about the central axis of the latter so that said contacts simultaneously engage said free surface of the conducting liquid only when the diametrical line extending through both contacts is horizontally disposed, an electrically operated signal device on said casing, yan electrical circuit for operating said signal ldevice and having said contacts interposed therein so that the circuit is completed through said body of electrical conducting liquid only when said contacts simultaneously engage said free surface of the liquid, means for angularly adjusting said contacts about said central axis of the reservoir thereby to vary the :angle of said straight longitudinal surface of the casing relative to the horizontal at which said signal device is operated, and indic-ating means responsive to said 'angular adjusting means to show the angle included between said straight longitudinal surface of the casing and the diarnetrical line through said contacts, thereby indicating said acngle of said straight longitudinal surface relative to the horizontal at which said signal device is operated.

6. A clinometer or the like for determining the angle of a slope; comprising a casing having at least one straight longitudinal surface `adapted to be applied against the slope to be measured, a generally circular reservoir in said casing disposed with its central axis extending parallel to the plane of said surface of the casing and transversely with respect to the latter, a body of electrical conducting liquid half-tilling said reservoir so that the center of the latter lies in the free surface of the liquid, two contacts at diametrically opposed locations in said reservoir .and movable together about the central axis of the latter so that said contacts simultaneously engage said free surface of the conducting liquid only when the diametrical line extending through both con-v tacts is horizontally disposed, an electrically operated signal device on said casing, 'an electrical circuit for operating said signal device and having said contacts, interposed therein so that the circuit is completed through weer@ meansrflol angu1arly`displacing said shaft about the latters` Y 4 thereby tr vary the angulark relationshipV of, said, straight longitudinal surface of the casing relative to the hciry'izoiital at which operation of said signaltdeviceoccurs;

7. A vclinometeror thelike for determining the angle of a yslope@comprising la casing havingvat'least one straightV longitudinal surface adapted to be lapplied against thelslope, to beI measured, a generallycircular reservoir inus'aidcasing disposed with its rcentralfaxis extending` parallelifto the'plane of isaid surface of the casinganclfY transversely with respect tothe latter,V a body of electricalv coiv ting liquid .half-filling said reservoir so that the center ofnftheA latter liesin the' 'free surface of the liquid,l tw'oicontactsn at diametrically opposed locations in said reservoir `and movable together abouttthe central axis of lthe'latter so that said vcontacts ysimultaneously engage said` yfree surface `of the conducting liquidYonly-When ,the y diainetrical lineV extending through both contacts Vis hor-t izontally disposed, an electrically operated signal devicekv onsaidcasing, an electrical circuitforoperating saidsignal` deviceandhaving'fsaid contacts interposed therein sothat ,f thetci'rcuitgiscornpleted through said body of electrical cdiiduetirig'liquid only when said contacts simultaneously i engagelsaidfree surfacel of the liquida shaft rotatable coaxiallygwith the central axis of said reservoir and havingv radial garmszextending therefrom and carrying said con-n tacts,;'a .worm gearon said shaft, l,a manuallyrotatable i drive lshaft journaied insai'l casing2 a rstworm on said Y L withfsaidworm gear to transmitlthel" rotation offsaid drivejshaftfto said shaft'car'rying the drive shaft 'mesh'i contacts,` a vsecond worm on said driveV4 shaft, a follower engaging saidi'sreconvd worm to move axially in responseto rotation of jsaid*,drive `shaft a Vscale on said casing calibrated in. degrees and extending parallel to` the axis of said drivesha'ft', andan index carried by said followerl and cooperating With ls'aid scale to indicate-the angular relationship of saidfstraight longitudinal surface of the` casing' to the -horizontal/w atv which ,said signal deviceis operated.

8.` Av clinonieten or thelike asin claim 7; wherein said second` worrn hasga pitch substantially greater than the pitch ot jsaidirst worm so that rotation ofsaid` drive shaft througha pr'edeterminedangle will effect a relatively small angular displacement'of saidcontacts and a relatively large lin-ear movement `of s'aid index along the scale, whereby the latter 4can be longitudinally expanded for easy and accurate reading of the indication given thereby.

9. A clinorneter or the like as in claim 7; wherein said reservoirhas yrelatively closely spaced` apart side walls between which said arnis `extend and a bulbous outer peripheral portion containing a substantial major portion of the Ibody of :electricalfconducting liquid contained in the reservoir, said contacts being engageable with said free, surface of .the liquid in said bulbous peripheral portion of thel reservoir'.

Referencresipted in theglc of this patent FOREKxlSLv PATENTS

Images